VU Fellowship Programme: Eligibility, Application Process, Selection Process

VU Fellowship Programme

Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, offers international students an opportunity to do a fellowship that covers the funds for their Masters programme via VU Fellowship Program. A total amount of around 1 million EUR has been set aside by Vrije Universiteit to finance this fellowship programme.

  • It is a merit-based scholarship and only high-achieving students will be awarded.
  • The fellowship is only applicable to English-taught courses.

The fellowship can be granted in the case of one or two year postgraduate courses., on the condition that the applicant did not do their previous degree in the Netherlands.


Highlights

Scholarship TypeMerit-Based, Tuition-Fee-Waiver
Offered byInstitution
OrganizationVrije Universiteit
Application Deadline Feb 01 ,2023
Number of ScholarshipsN/A
AmountVariable Amount
RenewabilityYes
International Student EligibleYes
Scholarship Website Linkhttps://vu.nl/en/education/more-about/scholarships-for-international-masters-students

Eligibility Criteria

You may apply for the fellowship if you have applied for the first year of a full-time Masters programme taught in English at VU.

  • You must have a GPA of at least 80% of the highest mark
  • You must not have earned your previous degree in the Netherlands.
  • You must not be of Dutch nationality.
  • You must not hold any other scholarship, or receive funds, except for possibly the Holland Scholarship.
  • You are conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full-time English-taught Master’s programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam starting per September 2023. Please note that:
    • students starting in February cannot apply,
    • joint programmes where VU Amsterdam does not administer the admission process are excluded from VUFP.
  • If you are doing a two-year Masters programme and have received the scholarship in the first year, it will only be extended to the second year if you complete 100% of credits.

Students already enrolled in a two-year Master’s programme who have not been awarded the VUFP scholarship in 2022/2023 are not eligible to apply for the VUFP scholarship for 2023/2024.


Application Process

The whole application process spans over about six months. The following steps must be followed:

  • Register for a Master's programme in Studielink, the common portal for institutions in the Netherlands, and after that in VUnet, the portal specific to Vrije Universiteit. You must apply for an English-taught Masters programme between October 1, 2022 and December1, 2022.
  • Submit an application for VUFP in VUnet before February 1, 2023 11:59 pm. Three documents are required to be submitted in PDF format and upload it in the Scholarship section of your personal dashboard on vu.nl (located on the Complete Registration page):
  • A transcript of your qualifying degree, with a clear explanation of the GPA calculation, which must be at least 80% of the highest possible mark.
  • A motivation letter or SOP of about 500 words answering these questions:
    • Why do you want to study this specific Master's programme?
    • What are your future goals?
    • Why do you deserve the VUFP scholarship?
  • Your CV, preferably in the Europass format.
  • All the applications received before the deadline will be first checked by the respective faculties, and then sent to the Central VUFP Committee for evaluation.
  • Every applicant will receive an email or a notification by mid-March 2023 (6 weeks after the deadline). informing them whether they have been selected or not.

The selected students must accept the offer by end of March 2023 (2 weeks after the results have been published),via VUnet.

NOTE: When applying for the VUFP scholarship, you automatically also apply for the HSP. No separate application is necessary. 

Please note that you can submit your application only once. Make sure to double check if your application is complete and sufficient before submitting it. You will not be allowed to submit it again!


Selection Process

The awardees are selected on the basis of their academic excellence, which will be analysed from their:

  • Motivation letter
  • Quality of previous education
  • Academic record

Recipients are required to maintain their grades for the duration of the course, failure of which may result in the termination of the scholarship.


Grant Details

The VU Fellowship Program awards talented Masters students full-tuition coverage with the aim of establishing VU Amsterdam as one of the top universities in Europe, and encouraging international citizens to pursue their education in the Netherlands.

  • The scholarship amount will be mentioned in the recipient’s award letter, and it will cover tuition fees but not living expenses. The fees will be deducted from the scholarship to pay for college, and students will not be receiving any cash.
  • The duration of the scholarship will also be mentioned in the award letter, and it is for the standard duration of the course.
  • Recipients are supposed to inform the VUFP committee in case of any changes in the programme or university or choice, or in their nationality.

One VUFP scholarship will be reserved for a student who has taken part in a semester abroad programme at VU.